Bar Tag Season Two: Nicola Simpson, Goros

Tag, Goros. It’s your turn for Bar Tag!

Tag Nicola, you’re it! On the second episode of Bar Tag we get to visit superstar bartender Nicola Simpson from Goros in Surry Hills. Nicola was nominated by Henry from the Whisky Room at The Clock Hotel in episode one to come up with a cocktail using lapsang souchong tincture. Has this ingredient got your tongue in a knot?

You may be more familiar with lapsang souchong, a tea variety that has a heavy smoke aroma. When you have a whiff, it’s as if you’ve entered a smokey wooden cabin, the smells of smoke hitting you square in the face. Tincture is best explained as the essence of the ingredient, steeped in a neutral grain alcohol. It can be used in small amounts by itself, or added with more ingredients for compounds like bitters. Lapsang souchong tincture offers a distinctly meaty essence, reminiscent of smoked meat.

Curious as to the cocktail Nicola created? You can watch as this concoction comes to life right here.

Goros first opened its doors in 2014. Amidst Sydney’s diminishing nightlife, Goros’ 3am license, epic saké menu and private karaoke booths makes it the perfect after-hours hangout. On the food menu is an amalgamation of tasty bar snacks and bigger naughty-but-nice eats, including their teriyaki burger with shoe-string fries, Karage chicken with Kewpie mayo, crumbed pork sambo, served with cabbage, Japanese BBQ sauce and mayo plus more. On the drinks menu, you’ll find plenty of saké, Japanese beers as well as Japanese-inspired cocktails like the Last Samurai, made with Absolut vodka, peach, mint, lime, pink grapefruit and yuzu tonic.

Sumo in a Sidecar Cocktail

Ingredients:

30ml Dewazukura Seijo sake

15ml apricot brandy

10ml sugar syrup

30ml fresh lemon juice

5ml lapsang souchong tincture (Whisky Room)

2-3 dashes peach bitters

Method:

Shake all ingredients and double strain into glass.

Garnish with a dried lemon wheel

Goros

84-86 Mark St, Surry Hills NSW

02 92120214

Open Mon-Wed 11:30am to 12am, Thursday 11:30am to 1am, Friday 11:30am to 3am and Saturday 4pm to 3am

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Eat Drink Play brings you a locals guide to the best places to eat, drink and play in Sydney and Melbourne. Read about the latest small bar, hot new restaurant or must-try café. Started by Alex Adams (Ms Darlinghurst) in 2009 the team now consists of a group of food loving contributors passionate about sharing the best Sydney and Melbourne have to offer.